A new study finds that it is not too late for older adults to improve their health and well-being through lifestyle interventions.
Researchers at the University of Toronto, Canada, found that almost 25% of adults over 60 with poor well-being were able to improve within three years. The publication in PLOS One underlines the importance of lifestyle and psychosocial factors in healthy aging.
Those with poor well-being reported pain, health issues, low mood, or isolation. People with strong psychological wellness at the start of the study were noted to be five times more likely to achieve ideal health.
The study notes that healthy weight, regular physical activity, avoiding insomnia and smoking, and social engagement are key factors.
Additionally, the researchers advocate for policy interventions, challenging the belief that aging means an inevitable decline.
“This isn’t just a story of resilience — it’s a roadmap for how we can help more older adults recover and thrive,” says first author Mabel Ho, a recent doctoral graduate at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) and the Institute of Life Course and Aging.
“Our findings highlight the powerful role of modifiable lifestyle and psychosocial factors in shaping healthy aging trajectories.”
Building systems to support recovery
The researchers defined optimal well-being as the absence of severe physical, cognitive, mental, or emotional conditions that hinder daily functioning. This included high self-reported physical health, mental well-being, happiness, and overall life satisfaction.
The study focused on people in a sub-optimal state of well-being, comparing their baseline condition with their condition after a 3-year follow-up. It followed 8,332 people who were married and had incomes above the poverty line.
“It’s incredibly encouraging to see that with the right supports and lifestyle, many older adults can reclaim full health, happiness, and independence — even after serious health challenges,” says Ho.
Aging research and geriatric practice focus too much on decline and disability, notes senior author Esme Fuller-Thomson, director of the Institute for Life Course & Aging and Professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.
“Our findings disrupt that narrative. Older adults can and do bounce back — and we need to build systems that support recovery.”
Ho adds: “We want this study to reshape how society views aging. With the right environment, resources, and supports, older adults don’t just survive after struggling with health or well-being issues — they thrive.”
However, because medically necessary services are provided free of charge to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents, the study notes that the results might not be fully applicable in situations where patients must pay for healthcare services, which could result in less access to this assistance.
The researchers are also unsure if the findings can be generalized to low- and middle-income countries.
“What’s powerful about this research is the reminder that later life can still be fulfilling, even after difficult periods. Good health is important, but so are the people, meaning, and joy we have in our lives,” says Ho.
Healthy aging and nutrition
According to a U.S. News & World Report survey of 53 members of the U.S. News Medical Review Board and Best Diets Panel, daily habits of physical activity, a nutrient-rich diet, and quality sleep collectively form the foundation for living longer and healthier lives.
Among longevity-targeted launches this year, US-based Novos unveiled what it says is its first functional bar explicitly formulated to support longevity. The bar combines 15 g of protein, five longevity-focused ingredients, and 20 superfoods in one snack.
In other targeted product development, a human clinical study recently confirmed that a tocotrienol-enriched functional beverage, containing PhytoGaia’s TocoGaia, delivers “clinically meaningful anti-aging improvements.” These benefits include “enhanced psychological quality of life, stronger antioxidant defenses, and better maintained telomerase activity, a key marker of genomic stability in healthy aging adults.”
